High Frequency Optoelectronics for smarter semiconductor Quantum Hardware
Supervisor: Dr Giorgos Georgiou
School: Engineering
Industry Partner: Toptica Photonics
Description:
Vision: Develop a unique solution for addressing the scalability problem of Quantum Technologies, by using hybrid photonic/semiconducting quantum hardware platforms. By using high-performing laser diodes, provided to us by our partner Toptica Photonics, our aim is to replace ‘traditional’ RF electronics with higher frequency on-chip optoelectronics operating at frequencies 1000x higher than state-of-the-art systems. Our approach, funded by EPSRC and EU EIC, will be unlocking significant bottlenecks of current technology as the operating temperatures of quantum systems can increase at a level where quantum hardware can be scaled up easily, and thus significantly reducing the cost-per-qubit.
Project Overview: State-of-the-art mainstream quantum hardware platforms, such as semiconducting, superconducting, atom-based etc., operate at extreme cryogenic temperatures in the milli-Kelvin (mK) or micro-Kelvin (μK) range, a requirement dictated by the fragile nature of quantum particles. This requirement is one that firstly creates a scalability problem, as mK or μK systems are small, and secondly a cost problem, as these systems are prohibitively expensive to manufacture, operate and deploy at scale. The photonic quantum hardware platform, on the other hand, is cheap, and does not have any of the limitations above as photons are robust particles and do not require to be operated at extreme cryogenic temperatures. However, photons by nature, do not interact with each other, something that imposes limitations on the development ofquantum logic circuitry.
Can we combine the benefits of semiconducting and photonic systems into a single hybrid quantum hardware platform that can operate without the limited-space or cost-per-qubit constraints? In this project we will be addressing this problem by using opto-electronic signals to control and manipulate semiconductor qubits. The successful candidate will combine Toptica infrared lasers on fast opto-electronic chips to create signals/photons in the THz frequency range, a key frequency where semiconductor qubits can be engineered to have their transition energies.
The project will focus on the generation of Far-Infrared signals ranging from 100GHz to 600 GHz, via opto-electronic down-conversion. The technology currently being pioneered by the UltraQUTE research group, will be tested by the successful applicant at 4 Kelvin temperatures, a crucial step for ensuring that this technology can be integrated alongside semiconductor qubits. Key performance indicators for the system will be: opto-electronic power conversion efficiency, signal propagation and dissipation levels on a semiconductor chip, and benchmarking opto-electronic detection sensitivity levels.
This is a novel project that has never been attempted before by other research groups, and as such we expect it to generate high-impact results that can be published in high-visibility journals, something that would benefit the successful student’s future career prospects.